Man, we’ve got to make a San Fran trip to see this somehow. It’s hard to believe would be Tezuka’s 80th birthday if he were still alive — he died terribly young (61).

PS: WILL NO ONE PUBLISH JUNGLE TAITEI LEO IN ENGLISH!!!!

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its partnership with the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco to produce the Manga Lounge which will complement the highly anticipated Tezuka: The Marvel of Manga exhibition. The Lounge will be open May 13 thru September 9, 2007 and coincides with the run of the exhibition, June 2 – September 9, 2007. Comprehensive details are available at www.marvelofmanga.org.

Internationally regarded as “The God of Manga,” Osamu Tezuka (1928 – 1989) remains an icon of almost mythic status for his contributions to the manga genre and visual storytelling as a whole. He created more than 700 manga titles during his lengthy career and is also widely credited with helping to create the “shojo,” or comics for girls, genre that is now experiencing explosive growth domestically. This exhibition, the first of its kind in the U.S., features more than 200 works by Tezuka, including original drawings, covers, and posters that trace the his development as an artist, the television and anime series inspired by his work, his adult-oriented manga and the far reaching impact of his legacy that continues today.

The Manga Lounge will vividly trace the overall history of manga and anime, with particular emphasis on their impact in North America, and will feature several vibrant displays and artwork, donated by VIZ Media, as well as a selection of related toys and rare collectibles. Visitors will be able to sample a vast collection of translated manga for all ages, enjoy a medley of looping anime shorts, check out a re-creation of a hardcore fan’s bedroom filled with memorabilia, and even try creating manga in the interactive drawing space. – more – Tezuka’s work draws wide acclaim for its rich complexity, originality, and extraordinary dynamism. His prolific manga works generally fit into two main categories: manga for a youth audience, including ASTRO BOY, KIMBA THE WHITE LION and PRINCESS KNIGHT (the first shojo title); and gekiga (drama pictures) which are more seriously-toned, adult-oriented narratives, such as SONG OF APOLLO, ADOLF, and LUDWIG B, that stress realistic effect and emotional impact and did much to define the look and pace of modern manga. One of his greatest manga titles, PHOENIX, is published by VIZ Media.

“We are privileged to partner with the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco to play a role in this historic exhibit of Osamu Tezuka’s work,” states Liza Coppola, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, VIZ Media. “This is a fantastic opportunity to view a comprehensive and very rare collection of this creative visionary’s work and also trace the history and continuing evolution of manga and anime with a variety of VIZ Media titles and art displays in the Manga Lounge. We look forward to anime and manga fans as well as aficionados of art, graphic design and pop culture coming to revel in this unique exhibition.”